In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in
one or two months
. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.
How long do cracked ribs hurt for?
The amount of pain you feel and how long it may last for will depend on the type of injury you have and how badly you have been hurt. As a rough guide, fractured ribs and sternums take about
4-6 weeks
to heal and it is usual to still feel some discomfort after this time. Bruising can take between 2-4 weeks to heal.
How do you know if your ribs are broken or cracked?
- strong pain in your chest area, particularly when you breathe in.
- swelling or tenderness around the affected ribs.
- sometimes bruising on the skin.
- feeling or hearing a crack if it’s a broken rib.
What are 4 signs and symptoms of a rib fracture?
- pain in the chest wall that gets worse when breathing, moving, or coughing.
- bruising or swelling around the ribs.
- shortness of breath.
- difficulty taking a deep breath.
How do you sleep with sore ribs?
Sleeping on your side, back and sitting up straight
are the only viable positions for this situation. Your choice will be based on your level of comfort. Some doctors recommend sleeping on the injured side to allow more room for your expansion and contraction of the chest cavity to ease breathing.
What happens if you leave a broken rib untreated?
When untreated, rib fractures will lead to serious short-term consequences such as
severe pain when breathing, pneumonia and, rarely, death
. Long-term consequences include chest wall deformity, chronic pain and decreased lung function.
What does bruised ribs feel like?
The main symptoms are
pain, swelling, and skin discoloration
. The skin overlying the bruise may turn blue, purple, or yellow. The bruised area is tender and sore. You may feel pain both when you move and while at rest.
How do you know if rib pain is muscular?
muscle rigidity when bending or twisting the upper body
. worsening pain when coughing, sneezing, or breathing in deeply. spasms of the intercostal muscles. tenderness in the area between the ribs.
Can a bruised rib heal on its own?
In most cases, a bruised rib will heal on its own
. You can take pain medicine while the rib mends. Pain relief allows you to take deep breaths. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
Is a hot bath good for bruised ribs?
Cold helps reduce pain and swelling. After two days,
apply heat (tub soaks or warm wet washcloths) to help the bruise heal more quickly
.
Why is my broken rib pain getting worse?
The risk of rib injury increases with
advancing age, brittle bones (osteoporosis), and low bone density (osteopenia)
. A break in one or more ribs can make the area painful to touch. The pain can worsen with a deep breath, laughing, or body movements like twisting and turning.
Why do cracked ribs hurt more when lying down?
It usually takes time at night for the patient to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. Usually, they prop themselves up with pillows or sleep in a recliner. Lying flat makes the pain worse because
the chest has to rise against gravity to get that deep breath in
and sitting upright takes gravity away.
